Residents' coping with cruise tourism

Cruise tourism is a contested practice, requiring research that moves beyond oversimplified accounts of progress or despair and applies primary data at the community level. Using in-depth interviews with residents of Eidfjord, Norway, during the pandemic-induced “break” from cruise tourism, this study critically examines their perspectives on and coping with cruising. It reveals that the pandemic has spurred residents to shift from more individualistic (reactive/anticipatory) coping to more communal (proactive/preventive) coping. Findings suggest that the good/bad, for/against debate about cruising needs to transition towards a comprehensive approach emphasizing not only sustainable planning, regulations, and visitor management but also a better understanding of how residents cope with cruise tourism and distinguish between impacts that they can and cannot cope with.